BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON VIVIPAROUS BLENNY EXPOSED TO CHRYSENE AND HELD IN SYNTHETIC AS WELL AS IN NATURAL BRACKISH-WATER

Viviparous blenny (Zoarces viviparous) were exposed to chrysene and he ld in natural brackish water as well as in two different synthetic bra ckish waters, all with a salinity of 6.8%. After 10 weeks of exposure a number of different biomarkers was analysed. The result indicated in creased ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity and the formation of two different DNA adduct spots in the liver tissue, as a result of the ch rysene exposure. Very similar results of the chrysene exposure were ob tained in blenny held in the two synthetic brackish waters. No influen ce of the synthetically made waters compared to the natural brackish w ater could be observed on the biomarkers investigated in the study. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.